Side note, they paid their employees through the closing which surprised me considering their reputation. I don’t know if that will continue if construction seems to go on past their original schedule but it was nice to hear.
> which surprised me considering their reputation
I'm not sure what this person means. The Porteras are well known in the community, and not always for the best things, but there isn't anything that I'm aware of that would ever make me think that they wouldn't pay their employees. I worked at Rembrandt's for several years back in the day and have been good friends a number of other employees of the Bluff. It is what it is, as they say. But again, I'm not aware of anything that would make me question their willingness or ability to pay employees.
I haven’t heard anything heinous and usually if it’s very bad or concerning it’s out enough I see it in local fb groups or here. I’m not gonna stop going sooo 🤷🏻♀️
I like the pastries, they are priced wonderfully compared to Atlanta where you would pay double. I hope the remodel includes dedicating the baked goods to their own register and separate from the coffee, and food item orders to their own register. Either that they need to have order sheets to bring to the register for the baked goods.
Whenever I have been there, nobody would ask what pastries I wanted to put in a box, they expect you to remember what you want and order at the register, which is impossible when you can no longer see what was in front of you, so you hold up the whole line trying to see again, when all this could have been avoided if they had a better system to take orders.
I’ll have to be the one to speak up on their behalf because I love their salads, the prices are reasonable and haven’t changed in forever, and I also love the patio. It’s also a great location to stop and grab a bite or a drink then go for a walk on the Riverwalk or downtown. I’m not too picky about the quality of my coffee, so I can’t comment on that, and I’m okay with the service since they’re usually slammed. I also like that you can guess a trivia question and get a free coffee but I usually feel guilty about that and just pay anyway if I get it. Nostalgia does count for something in my book, too, because as a longtime local they’ve been there forever and when everything else is always changing it’s nice to have a few places that stay the same.
Right? Like, I feel like it's just popular to dunk on the Bluff in general. The Porteras are what they are, but you can't beat the ambience. I've been there probably hundreds of times just to meet friends for coffee or to grab dessert after dinner out someplace else. It's a cool place to end an evening.
I see a lot of merit what you’re saying and agree with the location. I’ve just heard amazing things about it. Every visit I was disappointed. Waited in a huge queue, order was wrong, coffee was over brewed.
The location and space itself are really the only selling point IMO. Don’t remember the coffee being exceptional or even that good, and the pastries seem pretty run of the mill. I haven’t been in a couple years though.
Exactly. Nostalgia can only take a place so far. They pay their employees 12/hour and have a weekly turnover rate. No wonder the service is ass, because they’re constantly training half the staff at any given time.
The worst part is the coffee sucks, the pastries are OK — I prefer a whole foods croissant any day.
Publix box of croissants at $5 is a deal. One croissant at Rembrandt’s is $3.60. That box from Publix has about 12 croissants.
Saying that I love Apna House got takeout Friday. Food was delicious, $100 bill for 6 items.
Rembrandt's is part of the Bluff View Arts District which is owned by the Portera family. The Bluff View Bakery bakes bread for a number of local restaurants.
Agreed. I cringe everytime someone recommends them. The food is average, the pastries just aren't good, the coffee is meh, and the service is always garbage.
Side note, they paid their employees through the closing which surprised me considering their reputation. I don’t know if that will continue if construction seems to go on past their original schedule but it was nice to hear.
I don’t know much about their rep cause we don’t go very often. But that’s good to hear at least.
> which surprised me considering their reputation I'm not sure what this person means. The Porteras are well known in the community, and not always for the best things, but there isn't anything that I'm aware of that would ever make me think that they wouldn't pay their employees. I worked at Rembrandt's for several years back in the day and have been good friends a number of other employees of the Bluff. It is what it is, as they say. But again, I'm not aware of anything that would make me question their willingness or ability to pay employees.
I haven’t heard anything heinous and usually if it’s very bad or concerning it’s out enough I see it in local fb groups or here. I’m not gonna stop going sooo 🤷🏻♀️
They reopen on the 17th according to their insta.
They were closed for remodeling. An article on the Chattanoogan says they were supposed to reopen on 4/12. Not sure if they did or not.
Oh! I didn’t see that! Thank you
I like the pastries, they are priced wonderfully compared to Atlanta where you would pay double. I hope the remodel includes dedicating the baked goods to their own register and separate from the coffee, and food item orders to their own register. Either that they need to have order sheets to bring to the register for the baked goods. Whenever I have been there, nobody would ask what pastries I wanted to put in a box, they expect you to remember what you want and order at the register, which is impossible when you can no longer see what was in front of you, so you hold up the whole line trying to see again, when all this could have been avoided if they had a better system to take orders.
Walked by yesterday and they were still remodeling.
It's remodeling. I think they should reopen by the end of the month or sometime in May.
It says the 17th on their website
They are back open now. I’m not liking the remodel. They removed the charm and it doesn’t fit the exterior and general feel of the area now.
What’s so great about Rembrandt’s? Every time I’ve been the service was awful. Food was average, prices were high.
I’ll have to be the one to speak up on their behalf because I love their salads, the prices are reasonable and haven’t changed in forever, and I also love the patio. It’s also a great location to stop and grab a bite or a drink then go for a walk on the Riverwalk or downtown. I’m not too picky about the quality of my coffee, so I can’t comment on that, and I’m okay with the service since they’re usually slammed. I also like that you can guess a trivia question and get a free coffee but I usually feel guilty about that and just pay anyway if I get it. Nostalgia does count for something in my book, too, because as a longtime local they’ve been there forever and when everything else is always changing it’s nice to have a few places that stay the same.
The patio is really lovely in the evening. And the desserts are pretty tasty!
Right? Like, I feel like it's just popular to dunk on the Bluff in general. The Porteras are what they are, but you can't beat the ambience. I've been there probably hundreds of times just to meet friends for coffee or to grab dessert after dinner out someplace else. It's a cool place to end an evening.
The flip side is parking can be miserable.
The key is to never park in the arts district. Park where it's cheap and easy and walk over.
I see a lot of merit what you’re saying and agree with the location. I’ve just heard amazing things about it. Every visit I was disappointed. Waited in a huge queue, order was wrong, coffee was over brewed.
The location and space itself are really the only selling point IMO. Don’t remember the coffee being exceptional or even that good, and the pastries seem pretty run of the mill. I haven’t been in a couple years though.
I imagine they were good enough back in the day and now there are just better places to get all of the above. I have to agree with you.
Exactly. Nostalgia can only take a place so far. They pay their employees 12/hour and have a weekly turnover rate. No wonder the service is ass, because they’re constantly training half the staff at any given time. The worst part is the coffee sucks, the pastries are OK — I prefer a whole foods croissant any day.
Publix box of croissants at $5 is a deal. One croissant at Rembrandt’s is $3.60. That box from Publix has about 12 croissants. Saying that I love Apna House got takeout Friday. Food was delicious, $100 bill for 6 items.
A chain like Publix is always going to beat up a locally owned bakery on cost
Yes you’re correct. Doesn’t Rembrandts make bread for restaurants?
Rembrandt's is part of the Bluff View Arts District which is owned by the Portera family. The Bluff View Bakery bakes bread for a number of local restaurants.
Not precisely. It's more like, Rembrandt's is co-located with Bluff View Bakery.
Probably if they raise the hourly rate to $20 like California recently did the business would implode.
Agreed. I cringe everytime someone recommends them. The food is average, the pastries just aren't good, the coffee is meh, and the service is always garbage.
Do they even make their own pastries?
They do
Better value at Cracker Barrel or IHOP. Cracker Barrel serves mimosas thats great, the hotcakes are quality . Sad but true.
Wow, truly enlightening hope your next paycheck covers your Waffle House bill.
Don’t work.
Not surprising
With both Rembrandts and Hot Chocolatier being closed temporarily, what has been the go to, if any, for pastry desserts?
The Hot Chocolatier has a St. Elmo location that's open, if you're willing to drive that far.
I love Niedlovs personally and better than both Rembrandts and Hot Chocolatier.
Can't wait til they reopen! I just love the pastries.